HOTELS (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

7.04 p.m.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Ong Pang Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

As has already been explained by the Deputy Prime Minister in moving the Second Reading of the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill, 1963, the purpose of this Bill is tp make a consequential amendment to the Hotels Ordinance, 1954, which will transfer the functions of the Seamen's Lodging Houses Licensing Authority under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance to the Hotels Licensing Board under the Hotels Ordinance.

As the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Bill has been referred to Select Committee, I intend to do likewise with this Bill by referring it also to a Select Committee.

Mr Speaker, Sir, at present there are five seamen's lodging houses licensed by the Seamen's Lodging Houses Licensing Authority, and these lodging houses cater for transient seamen, i.e. seamen who have signed off ships in Singapore and who are waiting for repatriation to their country of origin or seamen who have come from outside Singapore and are awaiting the arrival of the ship they are to join.

Quite apart from the fact that the existence of a separate authority to license only five premises which were not warranted, it is felt that there is no reason why premises to be used by seamen should be of a lower standard than that of the lowest standard hotel at present licensed under the Hotels Ordinance. It has been ascertained that there should be no undue difficulty in connection with the five seamen lodging houses being brought up to the minimum standards required under the Hotels Ordinance. However, if for any reason the five seamen lodging houses should be unable to come up to these living standards, it would be possible for seamen to be given accommodation at the Asian Seamen's Club which provides good accommodation and wholesome food at reasonable rates.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Committed to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and seven other Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection. -[Mr Ong Pang Boon]